Automatic ball dispensing and teeing machine



1 1 1: I A 3 1W v I AUTOMATIC BALL DISPENSIIIIIG AND i TEEING I JAHINE Filed Sept. 9, 1965 e' Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ INVENTOR. JOSEPH A. GENTILUOMO BY Mam 6 Sheets Sheet 2 om mm 5 mm mm 5 3/ NM INVENTOR.

A. GENTILUOMO .May12,-1970 .gggesm'lLuomo r 'AuTbMA'rIc B L DISPENSING AND TEEING MACHINE Filed se x e, 1965 J. A. GENTILUOMO 3,511,507

I AUTOMATIC BALL DISPENSING m TEEING MACHINE Fnea se t. 9, "1965 e Sheets-Sheet 4.

I22 [I15 l2l HI I09 "2 IO INVENTOR.

JOSEPH A. GENTILUOMO 2 BY Maw N M ay1 12', 1970 N 'J.A.GEI'-JTILUOMO 1,

. AUTOMATIC BALL DISPENSING AND TEEING MACHINE Filed Sept. 9; 1955 I e Sheets-Sheet e Jugs A- an.

United States Patent 3,511,507 AUTOMATIC BALL DISPENSING AND TEEING MACHINE Joseph A. Gentiluomo, 1456 Belmont Ave., Schenectady, N.Y. 12308 Filed Sept. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 486,160 Int. Cl. A631) 57/00 US. Cl. 273-201 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine which automatically dispenses and tees balls for use in the field of golfing. The machine utilizes a ball motivator in conjunction with a push-pull coupling between the motivator and a tee. The coupling is either a direct mechanical link, a fluid link, or a combination fluid-mechanical link. The motivator is designed to produce a horizontally reciprocating motion which is converted into vertical movement of the tee by a diverting portion of the coupling. Balls are delivered one at a time to the tee, and the motivator is activated by switches which are operated as a ball seats on the tee and as the ball is driven therefrom.

Due to the complexity, low reliability, high initial cost and maintenance required of presently available golf ball dispensing and teeing machines their existence in golf practice ranges have been rather limited. In a majority of ranges it is still customary for the golfer to purchase a bucket of balls and manually tee each ball. Due to the number of balls usually hit for practice by the golfer, manual teeing becomes undesirable. Automatic teeing, therefore, not only relives the golfers of the laborious and monotonous task of teeing balls but also allows them to concentrate on perfecting their stance and swing.

Accordingly, objects of my invention are as follows:

To provide a ball dispensing and teeing machine that is structurally simple, reliable, eflicient and low in cost of both manufacture and maintenance.

To provide a ball dispensing and teeing machine that will automatically dispense and tee an allotted number of balls singly, every time a ball is dislodged from the tee and until the said allotted number of balls is exhausted.

To provide an automatic machine that will relieve the golfer of the duty of teeing balls manually.

To provide remote teeing means that are radically different and simpler in structure than the teeing systems presently available.

To provide a machine which can be utilized with the ball conveying track located either below or at the same standing level of the golfer.

To provide a machine that can be used by either a rightor a left-handed person.

These objects and other objects of this invention should be discerned and appreciated from the description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the automatic ball dispensing and teeing machine;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 show embodiments of the push-pull remote positioning means referred to as the mechanical push-pull remote positioning means and shown. as sectional views insertable along line O of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show embodiments of the push-pull remote positioning means referred to as the combination mechanical and fluid push-pull remote positioning means and shown as sectional views insertable along the line 0-0 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the push-pull remote positioning means referred to as the fluid push-pull remote positioning means and shown as a sectional view insertable along line OO of FIG. 1.

In order to utilize the disclosed embodiments of this invention, a supply of balls and commercially available ball motivator means B can be used in conjunction with machine controls to provide balls singly upon demand to the push-pull remote positioning means A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In explaining the invention in detail, it can be discerned that this invention is capable of many embodiments of Which several are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and also herein described.

The first embodiment of the push-pull remote positioning means A is shown in FIG. 3 as a mechanical pushpull remote positioning means 1, so designated because the systems remote coupling means push-pull motion is derived primarily from pure mechanical action.

This embodiment consists of a base 10 defined by an inclined ramp 11 at the transmitterend and a ball conveying means, such as track 12, extending along the top" surface of base 10. Said track 12 commences at the top of ramp 11 and continues downwardly toward opening 13 at the receiver end of said base: 10. At the receiver end, the base 10 has a slotted portion 14 for housing of control means 15 such as a metal canned mercury switch. Control means 15 is fixedly mounted to the lower end portion 16 of flexible support 17 and control means 18, such as a metal canned mercury switch, is fixedly mounted to the upper end portion 19. Intermediate portion of said flexible support 17 is in turn fixed-1y mounted to base 10 by fastening means 20. Said slotted portion 14 is located radially outward from edge of opening 13 and directly opposite and centered with respect to the ter-- mination of track 12. Opening 13 is of sufiicient size to allow ball 21 to enter and settle, within its confinements, upon teeing element 22. Teeing element 22 is fabricated from a resilient and flexible tubular material such as rubber which will yieldingly deform without damage under: impact. Said teeing element is provided as a loose piece and secured to head 23 of retainer 24 by an interference fit to facilitate replacement if and when damaggd.

Fixedly mounted to the cylindric surface of shank 25 is a flexible element 26, such as a close-coiled helical spring, which functions as a diverting means. The other end of said flexible element 26 is fixedly mounted to the stepped portion 27 of push-pull component 28. Retainer 24, flexible element 26 and push-pull component 28 are slidably mounted within annular cavity 29 which extends from the transmitter end of base 10 to the receiver end, where it curves from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical position. Secured to push-pull compo-.

nent 28 is adjustable stop 30 which can be positioned to yield the required upward stroke of teeing element 22 upon abutting stop surface 31. Fixedly mounted to platform 32 is an actuating means such as a reversible gearmotor 33 and an adjustable positional stop 34. Gearmotor 33 has pulley 35 fixedly mounted to its rotatable shaft 36. Wound tautly around and encircling cylindric surface of pulley 35 is a flexible drive element 37, such as a wire rope, disposed to cross over at bottom of said pulley in the manner shown in FIG. 3. Intermediate section of flexible drive element 37 is anchored to said pulley by suitable fastening means 38. Ends of flexible drive element 37 are stretched horizontally outward and fixedly anchored to the top surface of component 28 by suitable fastening means 39 and 40. Gearmotor 33 is disposed relative to platform 32 such that the operating clearance between bottom of said pulley 35 and top of component 28 is at an operable minimum. Thusly, gearmotor 33, pulley 35 and flexible drive element 37 function as the driving means to reciprocate push-pull component 28.

The standing support structure 41 is located above the horizontal portion of track 12 and spaced with suflicient clearance to allow balls to traverse freely. Fixedly mounted to the standing support structure 41 is a replaceable resilient element 42, such as a rubber mat, which serves to absorb golf club impact when inadvertently struck by the golfer. Opening 43 is common to both elements 41 and 42 and of such size as to allow passage of ball 21 and teeing element 22 to proper position above the upper surface of said resilient element 42. Standing support structure 41 is positionally associated and disposed relative to base to allow ball 21 seated on teeing element 22 to pass through opening 43 without interference.

Upon start of machine, a ball will be automatically released from the ball motivator means B onto track 12 of inclined ramp 11. It will accelerate by gravity down ramp 11 within said track 12 and ultimately drop down into opening 13. In so doing, designated ball 21 will first strike and actuate control means and then deposit itself upon teeing element 22. Actuation of control means 15 will cause energization of reversible gearmotor 33 to rotate pulley 35 clockwise. This rotation will induce translatory driving motion to the right-hand termination of the flexible drive element 37 thus driving the push-pull component 28 to the left until stop abuts surface 31. As can be discerned, push-pull component 28- will function to reciprocate the teeing element 22 with ball 21 upwardly through opening 43 to its uppermost position. This is possible because the mechanical push-pull remote coupling means which consists of components 22, 24, 26 and 28 are all operatively interconnected. When ball 21 is dislodged, said teeing element 22 will be forced into damped oscillation from the imparted impact of the golf club thus striking and actuating control means 18. This will in turn energize gearmotor 33 and rotate pulley 35 in a counterclockwise direction. Again, since components 37, 28, 26, 24 and 22 are operatively interconnected the teeing element 22 will be reciprocated downwardly until .the end of component 28 abuts stop 34, thus, placing the teeing element 22 in ball receiving position. Control means 18 will also provide a signal for the release of another ball from the ball motivator means B onto track of ramp 11, thus, completing one cycle of operation. Since said machine is automatic the cited operations to dispense and tee an alloted number of balls singly will repeatingly continue until said allotted number of balls are dislodged from teeing element 22.

A second embodiment of the push-pull remote positioning means A is shown in FIG. 4 as a mechanical push-pull remote positioning means 2, so designated because the systems remote coupling means push-pull motion is derived primarily from pure mechanical action.

This embodiment consists of a base defined by an inclined ramp 51 at the transmitter end and a ball conveying means such as track 52, which extends along the top surface of base 50, commencing at the top of said ramp 51 and continuing downwardly toward opening 53 at the receiver end of said base. At the receiver end, the base 50 has a slotted portion 54 for housing of control means 55 such as a metal canned mercury switch. Control means 55 is fixedly mounted to the lower end portion 56 of flexible support 57 and control means 58, such as a metal canned mercury switch, is fixedly mounted to the upper end portion 59. Intermediate portion of said flexible support 57 is in turn fixedly mounted to base 50 by fastening means 60. Said slotted portion 54 is located radially outward from edge of opening 53 and directly opposite and centered with respect to termination of track 52. Openings 53 is of sufiicient size to allow ball 61 to enter and settle, within its confinements, upon teeing element 62. Teeing element 62 is fabricated from a resilient and flexible tubular material such as rubber which will yieldingly deform without damage under impact. Said teeing element 62 is provided as a loose piece and secured to head 63 of retainer 64 by an interference fit in order to facilitate replacement if and when damaged.

Fixedly mounted to the cylindric surface of shank 65 is one end of flexing element 66 such as a helical compression spring. The other end of said flexing element 66 is freely supported on annular projection 67. Retainer 64 and flexible element 66 are slidably mounted within vertical annular cavity 68. Also supported on annular projection 67 is tubular stop 69 of proper outside diameter to allow substantially unrestricted motion between it and flexing element 66. Fixedly mounted to base 50 is pulley assembly 70 which is housed in opening 71. Flexible element 72, such as a wire rope, functions as a diverting means. One end is fixedly mounted within center of shank 65 and its length threads downwardly through tubular stop 69, thence, looping underneath and around pulley 73 and on through annular cavity 74. Transmitter end of said wire rope 72, upon emerging from cavity 74, passes underneath and encircles pulley 75 to a point where its termination is fixedly mounted to said pulley by fastening means 76. Secured to flexible element 72 is adjustable stop 77 which can be positioned to yield the required upward stroke of teeing element 62 upon abutting stop surface 81. Fixedly mounted to platform 78 is an actuating means such as a reversible gearmotor 79. Said gearmotor has pulley 75 fixedly mounted to rotatable shaft 80. Thusly, gearmotor 7'9 and pulley 75 function as the driving means to reciprocate flexible element 72.

Clearance between the bottom of standing support structure 82 and top of horizontal portion of base 50 is sufficient to allow balls to traverse freely. Overlying and fixedly mounted to standing support structure 82 is a replaceable resilient element 83, such as a rubber mat, which serves to absorb golf club impact when inadvertently struck by the golfer. Opening 84 is common to both elements 82 and 83 and of such size as to allow passage of ball 61 and teeing element 62 to proper height above upper surface of said resilient element 83. Standing support structure 82 is positionally associated and disposed relative to base 50 to allow ball 61 seated on teeing element 62 to pass through opening 84 without interference.

In operation, the machine will automatically release a ball from the ball motivator means B onto track 52 of inclined ramp 51. It will accelerate by gravity down ramp 51 within said track 52 and ultimately drop down into opening 53. In so doing, designated ball 61 will first strike and actuate control means 55 and then deposit itself upon teeing element 62. Actuation of control element 55 will cause energization of reversible gearmotor 79 to rotate pulley 75 clockwise. This rotation will unwind the flexible element 72 from pulley 75 and due to the pushing efltect created by the flexing element 66, the teeing element 62 will rise upwardly at pulley surface speed. When teeing element 62 i in its downward position the flexing element 66 acquire energy due to compression and therefore when the flexible element 72 is released from pulley 75 the expansion of element 66 will function to maintain element 72 taut. This means that teeing element 62 will rise smoothly until stop 77 abuts stop surface 81 and ball 61 appears above resilient element 83. When ball 61 is dislodged said teeing element 62 will be forced into damped oscillation thus striking and actuating control element 58. This will in turn energize gearmotor 79 and l rotate pulley 75 counterclockwise. Since the mechanical push-pull remote coupling means components 72, 66, 64 and 62 are all operatively connected the teeing element 62 will reciprocate downwardly until the bottom of shank 65 abuts tubular stop 69, thus placing the teeing element in ball receiving position. In this position the flexing element 66 will be compressed, thus storing the energy required for elevating of teeing element 62. Control element 58 will also provide a signal to the ball motivator means B for the release of another ball onto track of ramp 51, thus completing one cycle of operation. Since said machine is automatic the cited operations to dis ense and tee an allotted number of balls singly will continue until said allotted number of balls are dislodge from teeing element 62.

A third embodiment of the push-pull remote positioning means A is shown in FIG. 5 as a combination mechanical and fluid push-pull remote positioning means 3, so designated because the systems remote coupling means pushpull motion is derived primarily from a combination of mechanical and fluid action.

This embodiment consists of a base 90 defined by an inclined ramp 91 at the transmitter end and a ball conveying means such as track 92, which extends along the top surface of base 90, commencing at the top of said ramp 91 and continuing downwardly toward opening 93 at the receiver end of said base. At the receiver end, the base 90 has a removed section 94 to house diaphragm retainer 95 which is fixedly mounted within removed section 94 to secure flanged portion of diaphragm 107 within annular groove 96. The diaphragm retainer 95 has a slotted portion 97 for the housing of control means 98 such as a metal canned mercury switch. Control means 98 is fixedly mounted to the lower end portion 99 of flexible support 100 and control means 101, such as a metal canned mercury switch, is fixedly mounted to the upper end portion 102. Intermediate portion of said flexible support 100 is in turn fixedly mounted to the top surface of said dia phragm retainer 95 by fastening means 103. Said slotted portion 97 is located radially outward from edge of opening 93 and directly opposite and centered with respect to termination of track portion 104. Opening 93 is of sufficient size to allow ball 105 to enter and settle, within its confinements, upon teeing element 106. Teeing element 106 is fabricated from a resilient and flexible tubular material, such as rubber, which will yieldingly deform without damage under impact. Said teeing element 106 is constructed integral with diaphragm 107 which is reciprocably mounted within opening 93 and chamber 135.

Fixedly mounted at the bottom of chamber 135 is pulley assembly 108. One end of flexible element 109, which functions as a diverting means, is fastened to insert 110 which is fixedly mounted within center of diaphragm 107 and directly beneath teeing element 106. Length of said flexible element 109, such as wire rope, threads downwardly looping underneath and around pulley 111 and proceeding through annulus cavity 112 and chamber 113, whence, terminating within and fixedly mounted to fastener 114. Fastener 114 also serves to secure end of diaphragm 115, without leakage, to push-pull plunger 116 which is slidably mounted within bearing 117 of diaphragm retainer 118. Diaphragm retainer 118 is fixedly mounted to surface 119 of base 90, thereby, securing flanged portion of diaphragm 115., without leakage, within annulus groove 120. Secured to plunger 116 is adjustable stop 121 which can be positioned to yield the required upward stroke of teeing element 106 upon abutting stop surface 122. Fixedly mounted to platform 123 is an actuating means such as a reversible gearmotor 124 and an adjustable positional stop 125. Gearmotor 124 has pulley 126 fixedly mounted to ts rotatable shaft 127. Wound tautly around and encircling cylindric surface of pulley 126 is a flexible element 128', such as a wire rope, disposed to cross over at the bottom of said pulley in the manner shown in FIG. 5. Intermediate section of flexible drive element 128 is anchored to pulley 126 by suitable fastening means 129. Ends of flexible drive element 128 are stretched horizontally outward and fixedly anchored to the top surface of push-pull plunger 116 by suitable fastening means 130 and 131. Gearmotor 124 is disposed relative to platform 123 such that the operating clearance between the bottom of said pulley 126 and top of pushpull plunger 116 is at an operable minimum. Thusly, gearmotor 124, pulley 126 and flexible drive element-128 function of reciprocable push-pull plunger 116.

The standing support structure 132 is located above the horizontal portion of track 92 and spaced with sufiicient clearance to allow balls to traverse freely. Fixedly mounted to standing support structure 132 is a replaceable resilient element 133, such as a rubber mat, which serves to absorb golf club impact when inadvertently struck by the golfer. Opening 134 is common to both elements 132 and 133 and of such size as to allow passage of ball 105.

Standing support structure 132 is positionally associated and disposed relative to base to allow ball 105, seated on teeing element 106, to pass through opening 134 without interference.

In operation, the machine will automatically release a 'ball from the ball motivator means B onto track 92 of inclined ramp 91. Said ball will accelerate by'gravity down ramp 91 within said track 92 and ultimately drop down into opening 93. In so doing, designated ball will first strike and actuate control means 98 and then deposit itself upon teeing element 106. Actuation of control means 98 will cause energization of reversible gearmotor 124 to rotate pulley 126 clockwise. This rotation will induce translatory driving motion to the right-hand termination of flexible drive element 128, thus, moving the plunger 116 to the left until stop 121 abuts surface 122. As a result fluid from chamber 113 is displaced to chamber 135, thus, putting uniform pressure under diaphragm 107 to cause upward movement thereof, as flexible drive element 128 is unwound from pulley 126. As can be discerned the rate of said upward movement is dependent on the surface speed of pulley 126 since theflexible element 109 is operatively connected between pulley 126 and teeing element 106. In its uppermost position teeing element 106 will position ball 105 at proper height above resilient element 133. When ball 105 is dislodged said teeing element 106 will be forced into damped oscillation from the imparted impact, thus, striking and actuating control e1ement 101. This will energize gearmotor 124 and rotate pulley 126 counterclockwise, thus, moving push-pull plunger 116 to the right. Since the combination mechanical and fluid push-pull remote coupling means components 116, 115, 1-10, 109, 107 and the system fluid are operatively interconnected the teeing element 106 and diaphragm 107 will be reciprocated downwardly, thereby, displacing fluid from chamber 135 to chamber 113. The teeing element 106 will therefore be in ball receiving position when the end of push-pull plunger 116 abuts stop 125. Actuation of control element 101 will also provide a signal for the release of another ball from the ball motivator means B onto track of ramp 91, thus, completing one cycle of operation. Since said machine is automatic the cited operations to dispense and tee an allotted number of balls singly will repeatingly continue until said allotted number of balls are dislodged from teeing element 106. p A fourth embodiment of the push-pull remote positioning means A is shown in FIG. 6 as a combination mechanical and fluid push-pull remote positioning means 4, so designated because the systems remote coupling means push-pull motion is derived primarily froma combination of mechanical and fluid action.

This embodiment consists of a base defined by an inclined ramp 141 at the transmitter end and a ball conveying means, suchas track 142, extending along the top surface of base 140. Said track commencing at the top of ramp 141 and continuing downwardly toward opening 143 at the receiver end of said base. At the receiver end, the base 140 has a slotted portion 144 for housing of control means 145 such as a metal canned mercury switch. Control means 145 is fixedly mounted to the lower end portion 146 of flexible support 147 and control means 148 such as a metal canned mercury switch is fixedly mounted to the upper end portion 149. Intermediate portion of said flexible support 147 is in turn fixedly mounted to base 140 by fastening means 150. Said slotted portion 144 is located radially outward from edge of Opening 143 and directly opposite and centered with respect to termination of track 142. Opening 143 is of suflicient size to allow ball 151 to enter and settle, within its confinements, upon teeing element 152. Teeing element 152 is frabricated from a resilient and flexible tubular material, such as rubber, which will yieldingly deform under impact without damage. Said teeing element 152 is provided as a loose piece and secured to head 153 of retainer 154 by an interference fit in order to facilitate replacement if and when damaged.

Fixedly mounted to the cylindric surface of shank 155 is a flexible element 156, such as a close coiled helical spring, which functions as a diverting means. The other end of said flexible element 156 is fixedly mounted within internal portion 157 of plunger 158. Components 154, 156 and 158 are slidably mounted within annular cavity 159 which extends horizontally to the left of cavity 160 and then curving upwardly from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical position. Diaphragm assembly 161 is fixedly connected and leak-tight to end of plunger 158 by fastener 162. Also, flanged portion of said diaphragm is secured pressure tight within annulus groove 163 by retainer 164, which is in turn fixedly mounted to surface 165. Tube fitting 166 is positioned centrally to retainer outside diameter 167 and secured leak-tight within closed end of said retainer 164. A second tube fitting 168 is connected leak-tight to port 170 of chamber 169 and tube 171 is mounted leak-tight between said tube fittings 166 and 168. Diaphragm assembly 172 is fixedly connected and leak-tight to end of push-pull plunger 173 by fastener 174. Flanged portion of said diaphragm is secured pressure tight within annulus groove 175 by retainer 176, which is in turn fixedly mounted to surface 177. Ends of flexible element 178, such as a wire rope, are secured to fasteners 162 and 174 by a quick disconnect means to facilitate system assembly and disassembly. Push-pull plunger 173 is slidably mounted in bearing bore 179 of retainer 176 and fixedly mounted to said push-pull plunger is an adjustable stop 180, which can be positioned to yield the required upward stroke of teeing element 152, when said stop abuts stop surface 181. Fixedly mounted to platform 182 is an actuating means such as a reversible gearmotor 183 and an adjustable stop 184. Gearmotor 183 has pulley 185 fixedly mounted to its rotatable shaft 186. Wound tautly around cylindric surface of pulley 185 is a flexible drive element 187, such as a wire rope, disposed to cross over at bottom of said pulley. Intermediate section of flexible drive element 187 is anchored to pulley 185 by fastening means 188. Ends of said flexible drive element 187 are stretched horizontally outward and fixedly anchored to the top surface of push-pull plunger 173 by suitable fastening means 189 and 190. Gearmotor 183 is disposed relative to platform 182 such that the operating clearance between the bottom of said pulley 185 and the top of push-pull plunger 173 is at an operable minimum. Thusly, gearmotor 183,

struck by the golfer. Opening 193 is common to both elements 191 and 192 and of such size as to allow passage of ball 151. Standing support structure 191 is positionally associated and disposed relative to base to allow ball 151 seated on teeing element 152 to pass through opening 193 without interference.

In operation, the machine will automatically release a ball from the ball motivator means B onto track 142 of inclined ramp 141. Said ball will accelerate by gravity down ramp 141 within track 142 and ultimately drop down into opening 143. In so doing, designated 'ball 151 will first strike and actuate control element and then deposit itself upon teeing element 152. Actuation of control element 145 will cause energization of reversible gearmotor 183 to rotate pulley 185 clockwise. This rotation will induce translatory driving motion to the righthand termination of flexible drive element 187, thus, moving push-pull plunger 173 to the left until stop abuts surface 181. In so doing, fluid from chamber 169 will be displaced into chamber 194 through tube 171, thereby, causing diaphragm assembly 161 to move plunger 158 to the left. Since components 152, 154 and 156 are operatively connected to plunger 158 the teeing element 152 will reciprocate upwardly to its uppermost position. In its uppermost position said teeing element 152 will position ball 151 to the proper height above resilient member 192. When ball 151 is dislodged, said teeing element 152 will be forced into damped oscillation from the imparted impact of the golf club, thus, striking and actuating control element 148. This will energize gearmotor 183 to rotate pulley counterclockwise, thus, moving plunger 173 to the right. Since the combination mechanical and fluid push-pull remote coupling means components 173, 174, 178, 162, 158, 156, 154, 152 and system fluid are all operatively linked, the teeing element 152 will be reciprocated downwardly and the fluid from chamber 194 will be displaced back into chamber 169. The teeing element 152 will therefore be in ball receiving position when the end of plunger 173 abuts stop 184. Actuation of control element 148 will also provide a control signal to the ball motivator means B for the release of another ball onto track of ramp 141, thus, completing one cycle of operation. Since said machine is automatic the cited operations to dispense and tee an allotted number of balls singly will continue until said allotted number of balls are dislodged from teeing element 152.

A fifth embodiment of the push-pull remote positioning means A is shown in FIG. 7 as a fluid push-pull remote positioning means 5, so designated because the systems remote coupling means push-pull motion is derived primarily from fluid action.

This embodiment consists of a base 200 defined by an inclined ramp 201 at the transmitter end and a ball conveying means, such as track 202, which extends along the top surface of base 200. Said track commencing at the top of said ramp 201 and continuing downwardly toward opening 203 at the receiver end of said base. At the receiver end, the base 200 has a slotted portion 204 for housing of control means 205 such as a metal canned mercury switch. Control means 205 is fixedly mounted to the lower end portion 206 of flexible support 207 and control means 208, such as a metal canned mercury switch, is fixedly mounted to the upper end portion 209. Intermediate section of said flexible support 207 is in turn fixedly mounted to base 200 by fastening means 210. Said slotted portion 204 is located radially outward from edge of opening 203 and directly opposite and centered with respect to termination of track 202. Opening 203 is of sufiicient size to allow ball 211 to enter and settle, within its confinements, upon teeing element 212. Teeing element 212 is fabricated from a resilient and flexible tubular material, such as rubber, which will yieldingly deform under impact without damage. Said teeing element 212 is provided as a loose piece and secured to head 213 of retainer 214 by an interference fit in order to facilitate replacement if and when damaged.

Fixedly mounted to the cylindric surface of shank 215 is a flexible element 216, such as a close coiled helical spring, which functions as a diverting means. The other end of said flexible element 216'is fixedly mounted to a cylindric portion 217 of cylinder rod 218. Components 216 and 214 are slidably mounted within annular cavity 248 which extends horizontally to the left of cylinder rod 218 and then curving upwardly from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. Cylinder rod 218 is a component of a commercially available actuating cylinder 219 which is fixedly and horizontally mounted to surface 220. Mounted to surface 230, with push-pull cylinder rod 231 protruding through, opening 247, is another commercially available actuating cylinder 226. Both cited cylinders 219 and 226 are'of the same size and housed within base cut-out 232.: Ends of tube 224 are secured with leak-tight fittings to the blind ends of both cylinders 219 and 226. Also, ends of tube 225 are secured with leak-tight fittings to the rod end of both cylinders 219 and 226. Fixedly mounted to said cylinder rod 231 is an adjustable stop 233, which can be positioned to yield the required upward stroke of teeing element 212, upon abutting stop surface 234. Fixedly mounted to platform 235 is an actuating means such as a reversible gearmotor 236 and an adjustable stop 237. Gearmotor 236 has pulley 238 fixedly mounted to its rotatable shaft 239. Wound tautly around and encircling cyclindric surface of pulley 238 is a flexible drive element 240, such as a wire rope, disposed to cross over at the bottom of said pulley. Intermediate section of flexible drive element 240 is anchored to pulley 238 by fastening means 241. Ends of said flexible drive element 240 are stretched horizontally outward and fixedly anchored to the top surface of push-pull cylinder rod 231 by suitable fasteningmeans 242 and 243. Gearmotor 236 is disposed relative to platform 235 such that the operating clearance between the bottom of said pulley 238 and the top of push-pull cylinder rod 231 is at an operable minimum Thusly, gearmotor 236, pulley 238 and flexible drive element 240 function as the driving means to reciprocate push-pull cylinder rod 231.

The standing support structure 244. is located above the horizontal portion of track 202 and spaced with sufficient clearance to allow balls to traverse freely. Fixedly mounted to standing support structure 244 is a replaceable resilient member 245, such as a rubber mat, which serves to absorb golf club impact when inadvertently struck by the golfer. Opening 246 is common to both elements 244 and 245 and of such size as to allow passage of ball 211. Also, standing support structure 244 is positionally associated and disposed relative to base 200 to allow ball 211 seated on teeing element 212 to pass through opening 246 without interference.

In operation, the machine will automatically release a ball from the ball motivator means B onto track 202 of inclined ramp 201. Said ball will accelerate by gravity down ramp 201 within track 202 and ultimately drop down into opening 203. In so doing, designated ball 211 will first strike and actuate control element 205 and the deposit itself upon teeing .element 212. Actuation of control element 205 will cause energization of reversible gearmotor 236 to rotate pulley 238 clockwise. This rotation will induce translatory driving motion to the right-hand termination of flexible drive element 240, thus, moving push-pull cylinder rod 231 to the left until stop 233 abuts surface 234. In so doing, piston 227 will displace fluid from chamber 228 into chamber 222 through tube 224, thereby causing piston 221 and cylinder rod 218 to move to the left. contemporaneously, fluid from chamber 223 will be displaced into chamber 229 through tube 225. Since the fluid push-pull remote coupling means components 212, 214, 216, 219, 224, 226, 231 and system fluid are all operatively linked, the teeing element 212 will reciprocate upwardly to its uppermost position. In its uppermost position and teeing element 212 will position ball 211 to proper height above resilient member 245. When ball 211 is dislodged said teeing element 212 will be forced into damped oscillation from the imparted impact of the golf club, thus, striking and actuating control element 208. This will energize gearmotor 236 to rotate pulley 238 counterclockwise, thu-s, driving push-pull cylinder rod 231 to the right. In so doing, piston 227 will displace fluid from chamber 229 into chamber 223 through tube 225. This will cause piston 221 to be forced to the right by the fluid entering said chamber 223. contemporaneously, piston 221 will displace fluid from chamber 222 into chamber 228 through tube 224. Again, since components 212, 214 and 216 are operatively linked to cylinder rod 218, which is forced to the right by fluid action, the teeing element 212 will be reciprocated downwardly to ball receiving position when push-pull cylinder rod 231 abuts stop 237. Actuation of control element 208 will also provide a control. signal for the release of another ball from the ball motivator means B onto the track of ramp 201, thus, completing one cycle of operation. Since said machine is automatic the cited operations to dispense and tee an allotted number of balls singly will continue until said allotted number of balls are dislodged from teeing element 212.

Having thusly described my invention, I claim:

1. An automatic ball dispensing and teeing machine comprising in combination, a base means; a substantially horizontally disposed push-pull remote coupling means having transmitter and receiver ends, said remote coupling means being functional in vertically reciprocating a tee at the receiver end of said base means; a ball conveying means for transporting balls to said tee; ball motivator means functional in providing balls to said ball conveying means for usage at the receiver end of said base means; drive means operatively connected to the transmitter end of said remote coupling means; and control means interconnected to said drive means, said control means being responsive to a ball being positioned on or dislodged from said tee so as to impart sequential reciprocating movement thereto between a lowered ball receiving position and an elevated ball hitting position. I

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver end of said remote coupling means comprises a flexible means functional in changing substantially horizontal motion of said transmitted end to substantially vertical motion of said receiver end.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said push-pull remote coupling means is mechanical and comprises a flexible diverting means associated with the receiver end for changing substantially horizontal motion to substantially vertical motion, and a substantially horizontally disposed element connected to said flexible diverting means for etfectuating motion thereto.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said push-pull remote coupling means is mechanical and comprises a flexing element associated with said recevier end for biasing said receiver end upwardly, and a flexible element interconnected between said receiver and transmitter ends for etfectuating downward movement of said receiver end against the bias of said flexing element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said push-pull remote coupling means is a combined fluid-mechanical mechanism and comprises fluid means interconnecting said receiver and transmitter ends for efiectuating upward movement to said tee, and a pulling means interconnected between the receiver and transmitter ends to effectuate downward movement to said tee.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said push-pull remote coupling means comprises a first fluid means providing fluid linkage between said receiver and transmitter ends for effectuating upward movement of said tee, and a second fluid means providing fluid linkage between said receiver and transmitter ends for effectuating downward movement of said tee.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Robertson.

Church 25157 XR Cerles et a1 60-54.5 Wickline et a1. 25157 XR 10 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner US. 01. X.R. 6054.5 

